Hawthorn keep finals hopes alive

Hawthorn have rebounded from two successive losses and remain in the top eight after a hard fought 21-point win over Melbourne.

The Hawks kicked three goals to one in the last term in atrocious conditions at the MCG to beat the Demons 15.9 (99) to 12.6 (78).

Tenth-placed Melbourne are now effectively out of the finals race, but they gained plenty of respect in their biggest game during Dean Bailey’s time as coach.

It was the Hawks’ sixth straight win over Melbourne.

Melbourne had won four of their previous five matches and the match lived up to its billing, with neither side conceding an inch.

Hawks midfielder Brad Sewell was best afield with 27 disposals, while Xavier Ellis kicked three goals.

Meanwhile, missing out on Jonathan Brown’s 200th game was disappointing enough for the Brisbane Lions faithful. But it was nothing compared with the heartache of watching Adelaide snatch a scrappy seven-point win at the Gabba.

The 25,403-strong Brisbane crowd would have been forgiven for feeling underwhelmed when they arrived at the game after Lions skipper Brown had pulled out of his milestone match with a knee injury.